Means for counteracting arcs.



R. E. HELLM'UND.

MEANS FOR GOUNTERAGTING ARCS, APPLICATION FILED r2113, 1905.

1,028, 1 12. Pa tented June 4, 1912.

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Q IN ENTOR I v ATTORNEY UNITED sTATEs PATENT. oEEIoE.

RUnoLr E. HELLMUND, OF GREAT BARRINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS, AssreNoR, BY

MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING com- PANY, OF EAST PITTSBURGH, P NSYLVANIA, A CoRPoRATIo 0E r NNsYL- VANIA.

ltIll-EIAH'S FOR COUNTERACTING ARCS.

I Specification of Letters Patent. hApplication filed Iebruary 3, 1905. Serial No. 244,053.

To all whom it may concern: 1 Y

Be it known that I, RU1)0LF E. HELL- MUND, residing at Great Barrington, in the county of Berkshire and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Counteracting Arcs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The interruption of electric circuits by means of switches, circuit breakers, cut-outs and similar appliances is usually accompanied by arcing between the separated terminals which causes destructive or injuriousburmng of the said parts and preventsinstantaneous interruption of the circuits. Various auxiliary means have heretofore been proposed for the purpose of quickly disrupting and extinguishing the arcs above referred to, but on account of the complication, expense and generally unsatisfactory operation of apparatus having such auxiliary devices, I have devised a circuit interrupter which will perform the desired function without the use of auxiliary means for disruptingarcs between the separated switchmembers.

Figure l of the accompanying drawing is a View, partially in motion and partially in side elevation, of a switch embodying the I present invention, and Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.

I A frame or bracket n having a rectangular horizontal portion and triangular sides is secured to. the rear face of a switch board panel 9, and is provided with tubular insulators 5 and 6 for conducting terminal members 3 and 4, the upper ends of which are respectively connected to circuit conductors-7 and 8. Thelowerends of the members 3 and 4 are provided, respectively, with ears 1 and 2 having pivot pins a and 6 upon which conducting switch members 0 and d are mounted, the former having a contact clip 2 at its free end to be engaged by the free end of the latter. The switch members 0 and (Z are adapted to be given a rptative movement upon the pivot pins a andb by means of links 15 and 16, the lower ends of which are provided with slots 9 and h to receive pins 17 and 18 that project;- from the sides of the ,switch members,

and the upper ends of which arepivotally Patented June 4,, 1912:;

,55 connected to one end of,a lever 1'4 that-is fulcrumed at 12 to the side members of the 'frame n and projects through the panel 9,

its outer end being provided with a handle 13. The parts 14, .15 and 16 are preferably; constructed of non-conductingmaterial in order to protect theoperator from the volt-- age of the circuit. The lower ends ofthe terminal members 3 and 4 are provided with rigid pendant extensions 10 and 11, the free ends of which are respectively connected to the free ends of the switch members 0 and d by'helical tension springs o and Z for the purpose of moving the switch members quickly to their extreme opening positions after being tripped by the lever 14 and the links 15 and 16. The switch members 0 and (Z are surrounded by a receptacle 1' for containing oil, or other suitable insulating liquid.

In order to. close the switch, the handle 13 is moved downwardly to raise the inner end of the lever 14 and the links 15 and 16 and, consequently, switch'members 0 and it until the latter are brought into substantial alinement in horizontal position, where the Contact clipje carried by the member 0 engages the end of the member (Z and thereby establishes the circuit. The friction between the parts (5 and e is sufiicient to maintain the switch in closed position, it being necessary, in order to openthe switch, to raise the handle 13 and thus lower the links 15 and 16 until the upper end walls of the slots 9 and h strike the pins 18 and 17. The members 0 and d are separated quickly,

when started toward open position, by reason of the slots 9 and h and the action of the springs 0 and Z. The are between the switch members is thus not only quickly distended but is, l at the same time, carried downwardly in the oil.

I claim as my invention;

1. A switch comprising terminals, switch,

members pivoted thereto and adapted for end-to-end engagement in substantial alinement with each other, an operating lever,

and links interposed between said switch members and one end [of said lever and having lost motion connections to said members.-

2. A switch comprising terminals, switch members end-to ei engagement in substantial alineivoted thereto and ada ted for ment with each other, an operating lever, links interposed between one end. of said lever and saidswitchmembers and having slot and pin connections to the latter, and a liquid-containing receptacle in which said members are located.

3. A switch comprising terminals,-switch members pivoted thereto and adapted for end-to-end'engagement in substantial alinement with each other, an operating lever, links pivotally connected to the lever and having slot and pin connections to the switch members, and springs tending to move the switch members to their openc1rcu1t positions.

4. A switch comprising terminals, switch members pivoted thereto and adapted for end-to-end engagement in substantlal alinement with each other, an operating lever, links interposed between the switch memhere and the lever and embodying l0st-inotion connections, and resilient means tending to maintain the switch members out of engagement.

In testimony whereof Lhave signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnessesr RUDOLF E. HELLMUND.

Witnesses:

W. L. OLMs'rEAn, THOS. B. REID.

Washington, D. C.

oh, by addressing the Commissioner of Patent; I 

